October did not start on the best note for Manchester United. Fans were expecting a lot ahead of the Manchester Derby, especially after the form the team showed last month.
But that momentum appears to have fizzled out and the team suffered an embarrassing 3-6 loss at the hands of their cross-town rivals on Sunday.
That was not all, as the Red Devils proceeded to follow up on that performance by narrowly escaping humiliation against minnows Omonia Nicosia on Thursday.
donny’s struggles
United conceded first and then huffed and puffed to a narrow 3-2 win. The defense is starting to crack once again and the players seem to crack under pressure.
Does Erik ten Hag think Donny van de Beek can become a good player at Manchester United? pic.twitter.com/U0aJa9I1uc
— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) October 7, 2022
Erik ten Hag has a tough job on his hands ahead of the World Cup break. United will play 11 times in just over a month and need the whole team to chip in if United are to have a chance of finishing in the top four.
One player who has struggled to get playing time since Ten Hag’s arrival is Donny van de Beek. The Dutch international has been through a rough patch since he signed for United two seasons ago.
Both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick didn’t seem to rate him. However, the belief was that with the appointment of Ten Hag, Van De Beek would rediscover the form that led Europe’s top clubs to seek to sign him.
He had a decent pre-season, playing in most games and getting three cameo appearances, totaling 19 minutes in the league before succumbing to injury.
The manager outlined how his compatriot could save his United career during the pre-match press conference.
Can Donny save his career at Utd?
“You have to be available and when you are not available you cannot get a place in the first XI. Now he has to make sure he gets in shape and fights for his position.”
The former Ajax manager mentioned that his compatriot has not had the best moments since his arrival in Manchester, but said he still has the strength to break into the team in the future, especially given the tight schedule.
“He has to be in shape. Obviously, that is a disadvantage. He’s been here two and a half years now. He had a preseason, he was quite good, then his chances will come. When he came on against Brighton, he came on as a substitute and he did very well.”
There have been rumors linking the versatile midfielder with a January departure, but the 25 years will hope to succeed in the Premier League.
The coach had previously mentioned that he believed in his compatriot and the fans also support him. Now it’s up to Van De Beek to finally realize his potential in United’s red.
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